Our Paul Sandilands, Founder & Non Exec Director recently visited the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh where he saw a fascinating exhibition concerning James 1^st and V1th of Scotland.

His writings were diverse and included a treatise on the ills of taking tobacco and smoking as early as 1604.

A Counterblaste to Tobacco Written by James VI & 1 (1566-1625)

Printed book, first published 1604, in a later edition of 1672

 

James’s writings are diverse in subject and this treatise focusses on the ills of taking tobacco and smoking.  Written in 1604 the King expresses his disgust for the habit claiming there

‘cannot be a more base and yet hurtful, corruption in a Country, than is the vile use of taking Tobacco’.

 

He went on to describe smoking as a

‘custom loathsome to the eye, hateful the Nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the Lungs and in the black stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke.’

Clay tobacco pipe, English 1650-1700

It is perhaps taken rather longer for King James’s message to get through than he would have hoped……..although since WW2 smoking in adults has greatly declined in the UK, recent media coverage continues unabated with both BBC radio and The Times today, 20th August 2025, having articles on the subject.

Coverage was slanted towards the disappointing fact that teenage vaping can be a potential gateway to smoking. Research has suggested that children who vape are much more likely to start smoking.

Set of disposable electronic cigarettes of different shapes on a white background. The concept of modern smoking.

Does smoking impact your insurance?

For Life Assurance Underwriters smoking remains a key question in assessing the applicant risk. Smokers will have to pay more for their cover.

The reason is simple. Smoking is bad for you! It has been said that campaigns to stop smoking have saved more lives than antibiotics! Underwriters recognise that stopping smoking is just about the best thing you can do to improve your health and after a year of not smoking applicants will be rated as non-smokers.

Vaping continues to be treated as smoking by underwriters. Although it is recognised that vaping is a useful option to quit smoking its long-term effects are not yet known and regulation of vaping products is still being developed.

Having said all that one would guess that if there was something seriously and inherently wrong with e- cigarettes it would have emerged by now.

So perhaps a sensible approach for underwriters is to moderate the smoker loading for vapers. Some additional loading recognises the need to deal with the unknown long term risk of vaping whilst recognising the health benefits of vaping over smoking.

At Pulse we receive quite a few applications for Life Cover despite the applicant having suffered from quite serious medical conditions they continue to smoke.  The task of Pulse Insurance Limited is to provide cover wherever we possibly can.

To find out if cover may be available, please contact our life team